202: Truancy: Prevention and Intervention

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

Discuss the term truancy in Pennsylvania Recognize the urgency of addressing truancy Identify the underlying factors that place

children and youth at risk for truancy Define the importance of cross-systems

collaboration in the prevention and intervention of truancy

Identify strategies, including Truancy Elimination Plans/School Attendance Improvement Plans, for preventing and intervening in truancy 2

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Competencies

202-10      The Independent Living Professional understands the process of conducting initial and ongoing assessments of the education, employment, housing, and life skills needs of youth. The worker is able to use the assessment process to develop and monitor individualized Independent Living Program plans for youth.

3

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Competencies cont’d.

202-11      The Independent Living Professional understands his/her role in providing a spectrum of training, support, and referral services for youth. The worker is able to secure supplemental services by developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with substitute caregivers, children and youth staff, private provider agencies, school personnel, human service agencies, and community members.

207-6        The Child Welfare Professional understands the purpose and operations of multi-disciplinary service teams, can function as a contributing member of the team, knows how to advocate for the family, and can coordinate services from a variety of service providers.

4

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Agenda

Welcome and Introductions Assessment and Understanding Prevention and Intervention Strategies Summary and Evaluation

5

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Examining the Data

• How does the truancy rate for your county compare with the rate for your region? How might you explain the difference/similarity?

• Look at your region and identify the county with the highest truancy rate and the county with the lowest truancy rate – what might be some explanations for this?

• In the 3 years of data given, do you notice any significant increases or decreases in truancy rate for your county and/or your region? What might explain this?

6

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Categories of Factors Contributing to Truancy

• Child/Youth• Family• School• Community

7

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

8

Consequences of Truancy

• Dropping out of school• Alcohol and drug abuse• Gang activity• Delinquency• Unemployment• Emotional problems• Incarceration• Poverty in adulthood

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Six Critical Components for Successfully Addressing Truancy

1. Collaboration2. Family Involvement3. Comprehensive Approach4. Use of Incentives and Sanctions5. Development of a Supportive Context6. Evaluation of the Program

9

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Components of a Truancy Elimination Plan (TEP)/School Attendance Improvement

Plan (SAIP)• Assessment (identifying root causes of truancy

and possible solutions –student issues; parent/guardian issues; school issues)

• Student’s strengths and responsibilities• Family’s strengths and responsibilities• Method of monitoring the effectiveness of the

TEP/SAIP• Consequences of not fully implementing the

TEP/SAIP• Benefits of successful implementation of the

TEP/SAIP• Follow-up and reporting outcomes 10

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

TEP/SAIP Peer Review

• What possible root causes are identified in the assessment? Are there others?

• What student issues, parent/guardian issues, and school issues are identified in the assessment? Are they identified in the solutions?

• What student strengths are identified? What family strengths are identified?

• What solutions are identified and who is responsible for implementing the solutions?

• What are the consequences for non-compliance?

• What are the benefits of successful implementation?

11

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Questions

12

202: Truancy: Prevention and InterventionThe Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Summary and Evaluations

Your feedback helps PACWRC to

continuously improve the quality

and relevance of our courses.

13